How Acupuncture Works: A Modern Scientific Perspective
For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to support healing, reduce pain, calm the nervous system, and restore balance in the body. Traditionally explained through the movement of Qi (energy) along channels known as meridians, modern research is now helping us understand acupuncture through the language of neuroscience, hormones, circulation, and the body’s own […]
External Chinese Herbal Treatments for Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Educational Practitioner Guide – HealthConnectSHEN In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), shingles (Herpes Zoster) is often referred to as Dai Zhuang PaoZhen or “snake-like sores”. External herbal applications are commonly used in Chinese dermatology tohelp clear heat toxin, reduce inflammation, relieve burning pain, dry vesicles, and promote skin healing. Common External Treatment Principles Key External Chinese […]
Postherpetic Neuralgia Treatment
And there are two techniques widely discussed in Chinese clinical texts and hospital practice: You may have heard it described as the “Singing Dragon”, but the traditional name is usually translated as “Surround the Dragon.” Some practitioners poetically call it “singing” because of the rhythmic placement of needles around the rash. 1. Surround the Dragon […]
Autumn and Immunity
As the weather gets cooler and our bodies have to work a little harder to stay warm, they also have to work a little harder to fight off those autumn bugs. There are ways, however, in which we can assist in boosting our defence systems and immunity. These range from lifestyle choices to foods and […]
Change of Seasons
In Chinese medicine each of the seasons relates to a different element. Winter to water, Spring to wood, Summer to fire, and Autumn to metal. Each of these elements relates to a yin and a yang organ and their corresponding meridian systems within the body. This is useful to note as during any particular season […]
Meet Health Connect Shen Director, Dr Nicola Macdonald (Chinese Medicine)
We recently asked our fabulous Director and owner Health Connect Shen, Dr Nicola Macdonald (Chinese Medicine) a few questions so we could get to know her better. The answers were insightful so we wanted to share them with you! What do you like to do when not in clinic? I’m definitely a lover of the […]
The Story of Sleep
According to healthdirect.gov.au, 30% of Australians experience insomnia at some point in their lives, although only 5% require professional treatment. Insomnia can last for a short time, or months, even years. Women and elderly people are more likely to suffer from it. In clinic, we do see and hear about bad sleeping habits more often […]
Treating Children with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Children are full of yang (the energy that makes them grow and develop). We consider them fully physically developed by the age of 7 (girls) and 8 (boys). But as parents we know how easily they bring home sniffles and snotty noses and generously pass them on to us as well, especially in those early […]